Machine for making cans.



Patented July'24, I900.

R E T N u H U H 3 5 4 5 6 .m N

MACHINE FOR MAKING CANS.

(Application filed July 28, 1898.) (N0 M ll Sheets-Sheet n m u a s u lNo. 654,253. Patented July 24, I900. H. c. HUNTER.

MACHINE. FOR MAKING CANS.

(Appiicatiofi filed m 23, 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 /0 I! SheetsShaet z 0 5 /4-5 3 46 /4Z-- E /5/ 1' e? 29 Ug5 I /30 5 ma Noam PETERS c0. PNmG-UTHO. WASHINEYYON, a. z;

No. 654,253. Patented July 24, I900.v H. C. HUNTER.

MACHINE FOR MAKlNG CANS.

(Application filed July 2a, 1398.

ll Sheets$heet 3 (No Model.)

i @ZQM :R s co. wowumo WASWNGTON. u. c.

No. 654,253. Patented July 24, I900.

- H. c. HUNTER.

WiACi-HNE FOR MAKiNG CANS;

- (Application filed July 23, 1898- dB J ll Sheets-Sheet 4.

' Patented July 24, I900.

H. C. HUNTER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CANS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.) (No Model.) ll Sheets8heet 5.

No. 654,253. Patented. July 24, 1906.

H. c. HUNTER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CANS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.) (No Model. ll Sheets-Sheet 6.

No. 654,253. Patented July 24, I900, H. C. HUNTER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CANS.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.) (No Model.)

ll Sheets-Sheet 7,

No. 654,253. Patented luly 24,.|900..

H. c. HUNTER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING cAus.

(Application filed July 23, 1898.) (No Model.) ll Sheets-Sheet 8 n:NORRIS PETERS co. Plummmruovv WASHINGTON n cy Patented July 24; I900,-

H. c. HUNTER. MACHINE FOR'MAKING CANS.'

(Lpplicatioq filed July 28, 189B.) (No Model.) ll Sheets-Sheet 9.

No. 654,253. PatentedJuly 24, I900.

H. C. HUNTER.

MACHINE FUR MAKING CANS. (Application filed July 23, 1898.) (No Model.)

ll Sheets-Sheet l0.

I j "mu!!! 6 lli'iiiiiiijf Mil i! 1m [WI-mum lull-nuTllllllj :IINIHIII"No. 654,253 Patented July 24, I900.- H. C. HUNTER. I

MACHINE FOR MAKING CANS.

(Application filed July 23, 1598.) (No Model.) II Sheets$heet ll.

Nrren TATES ATENT Price,

HENRY o. HUNTER, on HAMILTON, cAnAnA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- BURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING o Ns.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 654,253, dated July 24,1900.

Application filed July 23, 1898. Serial No. 686,732. (No model.)

T0 ctZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY O. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Making Cans, of which the followingis a specification.

Myinvent-ion relates to machinery for making rectangular shaped packingcans composed of a body portion of fibrous material, a metallic head andbottom fastened thereon, and a metallic seaming-strip which extendsalong the flat side of the can and unites the edges of the shcetoffibrous material composing the body.

In the process of man ufactu rcI use a bodyblank consisting of a sheetof fibrous material having the seaming-stri p secured thereto along oneedge by a pair of gripping-flanges, a second pair of flanges on saidstrip being open and in position to receive the other or free edge ofthe body-blank when said blank is pressed or molded about the horn orforming-mandrel. This action of molding causes the free edge of thebody-blank to fall into position between the open flanges of theseaming-strip, and these flanges are then subjected to pressure to unitethe two edges of the blank by means of a hammer. The completed body isnow removed from the horn, the metallic bottom is put on the body-blankand crimped thereon, and the can is then filled, after which the head isput on and crimped, so as to be firmly connected thereto.

In the molding process I heat the former or horn, and by this I secure apermanent and accurate set of the body-blank to the shape of the horn,and the body is stiflened by this process. I have found that with theaid of heat a more perfect can is produced and one that is more rigidand is free from cracks or breaks at the corners when a rectangular canis to be made, whereas should the blank be rolled, bent, or smoothedwhile cold the rigidity of the body would be decreased, the flatsidedappearance of the can would not be maintained after the body was removedfrom the horn, and the corners of the can-body would be stretched,cracked, or broken. In connection with this heated horn of rectanmore orless air, and thus unavoidably with some moisture. Many articles of theclass specified are in the course of time to some extent damaged by thismoisture, and my machine, which is particularly adapted to be used inpacking establishments where the can is at once used and in which thecan is filled before the head is put on, is adapted to cause thecan-body to take up the moisture, if there be any, after the sealing.

In the mechanism for crimping the metallic heads of the cans to the bodyI use a pair of crimping-rollers carried by an oscillating or rockingsupport, a spring for forcing the said rollers against the can with apredetermined yet yielding pressure, positively-acting means forretracting the rollers, and compensating means for controlling saidrollers, which, together with their oscillating block and thespring-pressure, will insure regularity in the work notwithstanding therectangular or irregular shape of the can and the fact that the rollersmust operate first on the sides and then on the corners of the cans.These features of the crimping mechanism form the subject-matter of anapplication for Letters Patent of the United States of even date herewith, and in the present case my improvements, so far as the crimpingdevices are concerned, relate particularly to the means by which theheads of two rectangular or like! shaped cans are crimped simultaneouslyand in which the compensating means is controlled by the cansthemselves, one can being set a part of a revolution ahead of the other,so that the crimping-rollers will be acting upon the corner of one canwhile the other rollers will be acting upon the side of the other can,said rollers being connected and con- 9" and 9 are views of details.

trolled by a lever, which thus forms, in con-- nection with thecrimping-rollers, a compensaiing device to keep the pressure of therollers on the can the same at the corners as it is at the sides withoutmoving the main spring while at work.

The heated horn -is set vertically, forming a chimney for the heatingmeans, and this insures an even distribution of the heat on all sides.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of myrectangular fiber can. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same. Fig. 3is a horizontal section through the can. Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3, showing the method of folding the sides of the can. Fig. 5 is anedge view of the body-blank with the seaming-strip attached beforefolding. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the machine fromfront to rear. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the bu rner for heating thehorn. Fig. 7 is a side view of the machine with parts in section. Fig. 8is a rear view of the machine. Fig. 8 is a detail of the upper chuck.Fig. 9 is a plan view with parts in section. Figs. Fig. 10 is a planview of a section on line 10 10 of Fig. 7. Figs. 11 and 11 are detailviews of clutch devices. Fig. 12 is a detail view of a cam. Fig. 13 is aplan view of a section on line 13 13 of Fig. 8. Fig. 14 is a detail ofone of the angular folders and its lever. Fig. 15 is aplan view of anangular folder. Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views relating to thecan-holding chucks and the means for rotating the same.

Figs. 18 and 19 are detail views along the principal shafts of themachine. Fig. 20 is a view of the horn or mandrel and the press-frame.Fig. 21 is a plan view of the horn, the ham- 'mer, and the press-block.Figs. 22, 23, and 23 are detail views of the crimping-rollers. Figs. 24and 25 are detail views of the crimping-roller and upper chuck.' Fig. 26shows the change parts of the machine by which the machine is adaptedfor making different sizes of cans. Fig. 27 is a plan view of the trayused for holding these change parts.

The horn 1, about which the fiber bodyblank, Fig. 5, is folded, issupported by a king-bolt 2, extending above the table and up from abearing 3 in the press-frame 4. The'horn is hollow and, being setvertically,

forms a chimney for the heating device 5, and

the horn is thus equally heated on allits sides. A plate 6 partiallycloses the upper end of the horn to retain the heat. The body-blank,Fig. 5, is placed against the front of the former, with its edgesresting in the adjustable guides 7 at each side of the horn. The centralpart of the blank is held against the horn by the spring-pressed clamp6, carried by the presser 9. The folders 1 2 3 4 are of angular form tofit the corners of the rectangular horn, and they operate diagonally ofthe horn or at about an angle of forty-five degrees to the planes of thefaces of the horn. They mold the body-blank about the heated horn bysuccessive actions, the folders 1 and 2 operating first to turn the endsof the blank.

across the sides of the horn rearwardly, and then the folders 3 and 4 insuccession turn these ends of the blank toward the rear face of thehorn, so that the free edge 4 of the blank will fall into the spacebetween the open flanges 10 11 of the seaming-strip 12, attached to theotheredge 3" of the blank, and these parts will then be in position tobe fiattened down by the seaming-hammer to complete the seam. Thisaction of folding will be clear from Fig. 4, which shows the two lastsections of the'blank just before they reach the rear side of the horn.The proper engagement of the two last sections is rendered certain byholding the section 3 of the blank so as to stand out at a slight angleto the rear face of the horn, so that the free inclined flange 11 of theseaming-strip will stand more nearly at a right angle to the face of thehorn and will be out of the path of the edge 4" of the tres section 4 ofthe blank when this is folded toward the horn. This relation of theparts when they have engaged with each other is shown in Fig. 4. Thefree edge 4 is now bearing on the flange 10 of the seaming-strip, andwhen the parts reach the horn the edge 4 of section 4 will be fully upin the corner formed by the inclined flange 11 and the flange 10 of theseaming-strip. This makes a close joint and provides the maximumgripping-surface on the fiber body for the inclined flange to engagewhen thisis flattened down. The section is held at the slight anglereferred to away from the rear face of the horn by a yielding block orstrip 3 Fig. 9, inserted in the rear face of the horn and normallyprojecting a slight distance therefrom to aiford a bearing for thesection 3". The block is spring-pressed, and when the blow of theseaming-hammer comes upon the parts this block or strip recedes untilits rear face is flush with that of the horn, thus presenting a solidwall, against which the seaming is done. The folder 3 may be cut away at3 to permit the section 3 of the blank to assume this angular position,or the rear arm of the angular folder may be cut off or be made shorterfor the same purpose. The flattening down of the inclined flange and thefinal compression of the seamingstrip are done by a hammer 13, carriedin a holder 14, having an eccentric-strap 15 engaging an eccentric 16,formed with the vertical sleeve 17, Figs. 6 and 21, carried by thevertical shaft 18. After the folding action this hammer is advanced, andit first folds down the inclined flange 11 of the seamingstrip and thenby a quick blow compresses the whole seam. The hammer has a roller 19moving in a groove in the table, and this forms a pivot which, togetherwith the eccentric which oscillates the rear of the holder, will give alateral wiping effect to the hammer as it advances under the action ofthe eccentric, and this wiping effect will assist in the properfoldingdown of the inclined flange of the seaming-strip and the proper finalcom pressed condition of the seam. A presserbar 21 at the front of thehorn sustains the blow of the hammer, and it is arranged in an upturnedstandard 22of the press-frame 4, Figs. 6 and 20, and is operated againstthe horn at the same time that the hammer delivers its blow, andthusresists the same. The horn has a cross-web 23 in line with thehammer and presser, and this strengthens the horn in the direction ofthe pressure of both the hammer and the presser. The presser-bar has aroller 24 at its lowerend engaging the table, and a removable block 25is arranged in a groove in the table, with a pin 26 engaging a hole inthe presser, so that when the presser is advanced this block will bearon the horn and sustain the lower part against the blow of the hammer,the presser having an upper point of contact at 26 to sustain the blowat the upper part of the horn.

The action of the angular folders operating opposite the corners of thehorn and at angles of forty-five degrees to the body-blank is that ofmolding said blank to the rectangular or other shape having corners,'andthere is no stretching or smoothing action of the folders on the blank,and consequently the fiber of the board is not broken, cracked, orstretched, nor is the label injured. The heated former, in conjunctionwith the angular folders, will give a permanent set to the corners ofthe body-blank, which would not be the case were heat not used or weremeans used other than the angular folders, which simply press the blankat the corners. This heated horn generates steam from any latentmoisture in the fiber board, and this aids in the molding action, andfor securing the permanent set the dwell of the angular folders isintentionally made long enough to insure the complete drying out of thefiber of the body under the action of the heat from the horn. Thisdrying action of the fiber body adapts it to receive the goods it is tocontain as soon as the body is formed and the bottom is placed inposition on the body. This drying of the fibrous body is highlyessential where products such as chocolate, bakingpowder, coffee, or teaare to be packed therein, as the dry fiber body will not in itself causeprecipitation, but will take up any moisture which may be precipitatedfrom said products, and thus damage on this accountwill be avoided.

The guides 7, which support the bodyblankin front of the horn, comprisethe posts, which have vertical grooves on their inner faces, Figs. 9 and9, to receive the edges of the body-blank, and the rests 27, which areadjustable vertically on the posts and upon which the blanks aresupported. By adjusting these the body-blanks may be brought oppositethe center of the horn, the presser and hammer thus centralizing thebody-blank and securing contact of the hammer throughout the seam. Fig.3 shows the form of seam after the hammer has completed it.

The angular folders, as shown in the diagram Fig. 9", operate alonglines Z Z, parallel to but slightly offset from the diagonals of asquare-shaped horn 3O 31 32 33, so that the movement of the angularfolders will be along a mean-line between thelines of movement necessaryfor a square can and for an oblong can 34 35 36 37. This adapts thefolding mechanism to different shapes of cans, as by changing the hornand the angular' folders the means by which the angular folders aremoved need not be disturbed. The means for operating the angular foldersconsist of the levers 35, carrying pivotally the shoes 36, to which theangular folders are attached, Figs. 9, 14, and 15, said leversbeingpivoted in cars 37 on the frame and having rollers on succession,first the folders 1 and 2 and then r the folder 3, and finally thefolder 4, the latter placing the free end of the body-blank in the openflanges of the seaming-strip and making the lap ready for theseaming-hammer. The wedge-block is moved vertically by a crank 42,pivoted to a block 43, adapted to slide in a grooved cross-head 44 onthe wedge-block, the crank being on a shaft 45, operated through thegear 46 thereon and a pinion 47 on the main driving-shaft 48. The wingsof the wedge-block have short raised portions 49 for giving the finalpressure to the folding-levers, and the dwell of the levers and angularfolders is long enough to insure a permanent set of the molded cornersof the body-blank in connection with the heated former. Thefolding-levers are returned to normal position when the wedge-blockrises by springs 50, Fig. 6.

Evener-links 36, Figs. 7 and 14, are pivoted to the shoes 36 and to theears 37 in front of the pivots of the folding-levers 35, and they serveto even the movement and keep the face of the angular folder exactlyparallel with the corner of the horn. Adjusting set-screws 72, Fig. 14,serve to fix the position of the angular folders relative to the shoes.

The sleeve 17, which carries the hammeroperating eccentric, is rotatedintermittingly to give the seaming blow through a clutch, one member 51of which, Fig. 6, is on asleeve 52, pinned to the vertical shaft 18 andhaving a beveled gear.54 meshing with asimilar gear 53, pinned on themain driving-shaft 48, so that the vertical shaft 18 and the clutchdotted lines, Fig. 6.

all positions thereof.

member 51 rotate constantly. The other member of the clutch on thesleeve 17 carries a pin 55, adapted to engage a hole 56 in the clutchmember 51. Fig. 6 shows the clutchpin as raised out of the hole by acrescent, Figs. 6 and 10, having an incline 57 to engage the head of thepin. The sleeve 17 and hammer are nowat rest; but when the crescent iswithdrawn the clutch-pin drops, aided by the spring 56, and the hammeris advanced to give a quick blow, is then returned, and is brought torest by the release of the clutchpin from the clutch member 51. Thecrescent is moved into the path of the head of the clutch-pin by an arm58, carrying it, Figs. 7, 8, and 10, a vertical rock-shaft 59, carryingthe arm, and a second arm 60 on the rockshaft, which has anadjusting-screw engaging a roller-arm 61, pivoted looselyon a shaft 62,Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 13, and operated by its roller-bearing on thecam-surface 61' of the gear-wheel 4:6. The crescent is thrown out ofaction by the spring 63, Fig. 10, when the pressure of the cam 61 isrelieved. The sleeve 17 bears in bosses 4: on the pressframe 4.

The presser 21 is operated against the born by a wedge-slide 63, Figs. 6and 20, which is moved vertically in a recess of the front standard 22of the press-frame by a rod 64, connected to an arm 65 on a rock-shaft66, which shaft has also an arm 67, Figs. 6, 10, and 13, operated from acam-surface 67 on the inner side of the flange of the gear-wheel 46, theshape of said cam being indicated in This wedge-slide operates against awedge-plate 68, which bears against a filling-piece 69 between it andthe back of the presser, Fig. 20. The presser is adjustable by a screw70, fixed thereto and threaded through a sleeve 71, connected with thewedge-plate 68, said sleeve being turned by a hand-wheel 70'. A spring71 tends to force the sleeve outward, and this keeps the wedge-platepressed against the wedge-slide in p The wedge-slide is slotted toreceive the sleeve, and the filling-piece is bifurcated to be droppeddown over the screw. The filling-piece 69 is a change part for differentsizes of cans.

It will be seen that the thrust of the hammer and of the presser issustained by the press-frame, Figs-6 and 20, and this is of U shape,having the massive standards at front and rear connected by thehorizontal portion t.

The fiber body when completed is stripped from the horn by astripper-plate 73, Figs. 6, 9, and 26, which is raised by two rods 74,extending up from arms on a grooved crosshead 75, movable vertically ona guide-rod 76, Figs. 6 and 13, and operated by a crank 77, having ablock sliding in the cross-head, said crank being operated through ashaft 78, a gear-wheel 79 thereon, and a second gear 80 on the shaft 81,Figs. 8, 10, 11, and 13. This shaft is operated intermittingly through aclutch comprising a gear-wheel 82, loose on the main shaft and having acollar 83 fixed thereto, carrying a clutch-pin 84;", Figs. 10 and 11, toengage a hole in the collar 84 fixed on the main shaft. The clutch-pinis springpressed, like the clutch-pin 55 before described, and it isretracted by a crescent 84", which has an incline, Fig. 11, up which thehead of the pin will ride when the crescent is in the path of the headof the clutch-pin.

The crescent is on a lever 85, loosely pivoted on the shaft 81 andhaving a lateral arm, with a roller 86 engaging a cam-surface on thegear-wheel 4.6. An adjustable brake 87, Figs. 8 and11, is applied to thecollar of the clutch to prevent excess of movement of the parts of thestripper mechanism.

After the body is formed the operator places a metallic bottom on saidbody and then places the can, minus the top, bottom side uppermost,between upper and lower chucks 89 90. The lower chucks have at this timebeen lowered for the ready introduction of the can by a lever 91, Figs.6, 7, 8, 10, and 18, loosely pivoted on the main shaft, with its forwardarm in the path of a supplemental wing 93 on the wedge-block beforementioned and with its rear arm engaging a cross-piece 95, secured tothe rods 96, which connect with a cross-bar 97, in which the shafts ofthe lower chucks are journaled. Sleeves 98 are secured adjustably to thechuck-shafts by a screw 99,

and springs 100, held in barrels 101, supported by the frame 102, pressupwardly against the sleeves and tend to move the chuck-shaft, with thelower chucks, upwardly to grip the cans between the same and upperchucks. The sleeves and chuck-shafts pass through bearings 104 on theframe, Fig. 7. The spring exerts a predetermined pressure and'the fibercan-body will be securely held, but will not be strained or damaged inany way. By loossuing the said screw the chuck, with its shaft, may bemoved up or down in relation to the sleeve to suit different sizes ofcans; but in all adjustments of the cans the spring-pressure which holdsthe lower chuck against the can will be the same. The upper chucks arerotated through gears 105 106 on their shafts, which are driven from theintermediate gear 107, Figs. 8 and 17, and this gear 107 is driven froma pinion 108 through the gear 109. The shaft of the intermediate gear107 extends downwardly, Fig. 8, and has the gear 110 meshing with gears111 112, Figs. Sand 16, connected with the lower chucks, to make theupper and lower chucks move in unison to prevent twisting the body ofthe can.

The crimping of the metallic bottom and head onto the fiber body is donein connection with the upper chuck, the lower chuck serving to hold thecan against the upper chuck. The upper chuck is formed with an undercutshoulder 113, and the upturned rim of the bottom or head rests againstthis shoulder, the inner side of said rim bearing against the face 114of the chuck, as in Fig. 8.

Crimping-rollers and 116 are journaled in a block 117, which is swiveledin a carriage 118, moving in ways 119, fixed to the frame of themachine. The crimping-rollers are designed to act simultaneously uponthe flange 120 of the bottom or head to force the same firmly intocontact with the fiber canbody,asis shown in Figs.24 and 25,and for thispurpose the rollers have an inclined crimping-surface 121, ending in anedge 122 opposite the lower edge of the metallic flange 120. Thisinclined surface 121, together with the shoulder 113 and the face 114 onthe chuck, forms the confined space, Fig. 25, in which the bead of thehead is formed. The shoulder 113 forms a confining-bearing for the upperedge of the rim of the bottom or head, and when the crimping-roller isbrought to bear upon the flange 120 the said flange will be forcedinwardly and crimped into firm connection with the fiber body and theoriginal form of the upper edge of the rim will be preserved, as theconfining-shoulder 113, together with the bearing-face 114 and theinclined face of the roller, will form confining-walls for the rims andwill prevent any distortion or any irregularities occurring from anyforce or pressure of the roller, and the only result of thecrimping-roller will be to crimp the flange inwardly into the fiberbody. The forward movement of the roller for the crimping action isgiven by a spring 123, bearing at its upper end against a lug orprojection 124 on the frame and at its lower end against the sleeve 125,which is adjustable on the screwrod 1.26 by a hand wheel and nut 127.The upper end of the rod connects with the bellcrank lever 128, Fig. 6,and this is connected to a slide-bar 129, carrying an adjustable block130, to which a lever 131 is pivoted, Figs. 8 and 9, the ends of saidlever engaging bars 132, which are carried by the carriages of thecrimpingrollers and are an ranged to slide therein, springs 133beinginterposed between the carriages and disks 134 on the saidslide-bars.

In action when the spring 123 is allowed to exert its force it depressesthe rod 126 and through the bell-crank 128 moves the slidebar 129,together with the lever 131, toward the can, thus drawing upon the bar132 and through the springs 133 forcing the crimpingroller carriages tothe rear to press the rollers against the flanges of the head or bottom,as the case may be. The spring 123, it will be noticed, is the primarymeans used in pressing the crimping-rollers to their work, and the forceof this spring being accurately determined the pressure exerted by thecrimping-rollers is just sufficient to press the metal flange into thefiber body.

In operating upon the body-blank of fibrous material it is essentialthat the crimping pressure exerted upon the metallic flange besufficient to firmly unite the parts and that it be accuratelydetermined in order to prevent cutting of the fiber and to secureuniformity of work, and it is also essential that this primarypredetermined pressure be of a yielding nature in order to secure themost perfect results. This predetermined and yielding pressure I secureby means of the spring 123. In order to relieve the pressure, I employpositively-acting mechanical means for withdrawing the force of the saidspring, consisting of an arm 135 on the sleeve 136, loose on the shaft62, said sleeve having an arm 137, the roller of which is acted upon bya cam-surface 137, carried by the gear-wheel 46. After the crimpingaction has been performed this mechanical means will raise the rod 126,take off the pressure of the spring 123, and the crimping-rollers willthen be free from pressure, though they may with their surfaces 138 bearlightly upon the upper face 114' of the chuck under the pressure of thespring 133. The rollers have an inwardly-inclined lower face 139, whichwill permit the ready insertion and guidance of the can to the shoulders113 and 114 of the chuck, and when the can is inserted the spring 133will yield to allow the crimpingrollers and their carriage to retractslightly. When the crimping-roller is being setup to its work,thespring-pressure is applied gradually. The force of the spring 123 isgradu ally exerted and applied through the lighter spring 133, and afterthis spring 133 has been compressed a pin 140 on the slide-bar 132contacts with the bar 141 of the crimpingroller carriage, andthen thefull force of the spring 123 is exerted upon the carriage to force thecrimping-rollers to their work. This gradual application of thespring-pressure is important, as it prevents any damage to thematerial,which might occur should the crimp ing-rollers be forcedsuddenly and with the full pressure against the head. After the pressurehas been applied and the crimpingwheels set against the work the chucksare set in rotation through the described gearing from the clutch 142,Fig. 6, which comprises a clutch member 143, fixed to the shaft 18,before described, and having an opening to receive a pin 145 in theother clutch member when said pin is released from the wedge or crescent146. Through this clutch the shaft 147 is driven, and this shaft carriesthe gear 108. The crescent 146 is controlled by an arm 148, connectedthereto and fixed on a rock-shaft 149, which is operated through an arm150, a rod 151, an arm 152, the shaft 62, Figs. 6 and 19, the arm 153 onsaid shaft, and a cam-surface 153, carried by the gearwheel 46. Theupper and lower chucks through the gearing described rotate in unison,and the lower chucks consist simply of plates 90, Fig. 26, which aresecured to the lower gear-wheels and are adapted to permit thecan-body,the bottom, or the head to fit over them. The chucks are opento receive the cans at the same time that the folding mechanism is opento receive and operate upon the body-blank.

The crimping-rollers are arranged in pairs in the oscillating blocks,and by this arrangement and the fact that they are under pressure theyact perfectly in connection with a square, oblong, or like-shaped canhaving corners, as in turning the corners the movement of one rollerwill control that of the other and insure a uniform contact of therollers upon the flange of the head. In pass ing the corners the blockscarrying the pairs of crimping-rollers simply rock upon their pivots andthere is no tendency of the rollers to jump from the corners of the can.Both rollers act simultaneously upon the head, and a double crimpingeffect is thus secured for each revolution of the chuck, and thisinsures rapid production of the work with a comparative slow rate ofrotation of the chucks.

' In crimping the heads of square orlike cans the crimping-rollers mustnecessarily move back and forth as they work upon the fiat sides andcorners of the cans, and this movement should be compensated for and prevented from affecting the pressure-applying means, so that said meansmay be constant and uniform in its action and that all parts of thecan-head will be crimped uniformly whether at the corners or at thesides. This compensating means is interposed between thepressure-applyin gsprin g and the carriage of the crimping-rollers. FromFig. 9 it will beseen that the chucks are so set that the one at theright as viewed from the back of the machine has its flat side oppositethe crimping-rollers, while that at the left has its corner opposite itscrim pin g-rollers,one chuck being thus one-eighth of a revolutionturned in relation to the other. This arrangement, together with thelever 131, pivoted midway of its length and connected at its ends, asdescribed, with the crimping-roller carriages, constitutes in this formof machine the compensating arrangement, and as the pressure for forcingthe crimping-rollers to their work is exerted through the slide-bar 129and the pivot of the lever 131 it will be seen that the pressure at therollers on both cans will be uniform, as when one end of the leverretracts for the passage of the corner of one can by the crimping-rollerthe other end of the lever will be moved forwardly, so that the rollersat that end will be forced with an equal pressure against the flat sideof the other can while the pivot of the lever 131 and the slidebar 129will not be affected at all and no back pressure will be imparted to thepressurespring. It will be seen from this that the two cans, arrangedone-eighth turn from each other, together with the oscillating lever131, constitutea compensating means to prevent the reciprocatingmovement of the crimping- .roller from affecting the pressure-applyingdevice. The pivoted block of the lever 131 is adjustable in the slot ofthe slide-bar 129 to adjust for different sizes of cans.

The main shaft has a clutch 154, controlle by a crescent 155 on a lever156, which is conerator first puts the bottom on the can-body and placesthe can in the chuck with the bottom side up, and after the can isfilled and the head put on it is placed in the other chuck at the rearof the machine, and while this head is being crimped the bottom is beingcrimped on a fresh can in the first chuck and at the same time acan-body is being formed in the folding mechanism, so that each can goesthrough the several steps of formation of the body, crimping of thebottom in one chuck and crimping of the head in the other chuck, afterthe contents have been put in the can.

Fig. 26 represents the change parts of the machine, and these are theonly parts which need to be removed and replaced in order to change themachine from one size can to another, and these parts comprise the born,with its top plate, the hammer, the fillingpiece, which is inserted backof the presser, the four angular folders, the stripper, and the upperand lower chuck-disks. At m, Fig. 26, is shown a piece of tin which willact as a gage for setting the rests upon which the body-blanks aresupported in front of the horn, and at y, Fig. 26, is shown a block bywhich the position of the lower chuck may be determined by inserting theblock between the chuck and the table, these parts constituting the gagedevices by which the rests for the body-blanks and chuck may be set tooperate with the group of change parts shown in this figure.

I do not wish to limit myself to'the use of the machine in makingrectangular cans, as of course it may be advantageously used also inmaking round or curved cans;

The lever 131 constitutes a movable part of the compensating means, andthis movable part is controlled by the rollers at the end thereof-thatis, the rollers at each end of the lever act through said lever tocontrol the crimping-rollers at the other end of the lever.

I claim 1. In combination in a machine for forming can-bodies, the hornand a series of angular folders opposite the corners of the horn andoperating toward and from the horn substantially along lines coincidingwith the diagonals thereof and at angles of about forty-five degrees tothe face of the body-blank, said angular folders acting to mold thebody-blank at the corners of the horn and means for giving a successiveaction to the angular folders, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a machine for making cans from fibrous board, ahollow horn arranged as a chimney with heating means below the same, aseries of angular folders arranged opposite the corners of the horn andoperating-along lines coincident with the diagonal of the horn and atangles of about emcee forty-five degrees to the surface of thebodyblank, said folders acting to mold the blank at the corners of thehorn and means for operatin g the angular folders in succession, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a can-making machine, the horn, the clamp forholding the body-blank on the front face of the horn, and gages forsupporting the ends of the bodyblank at each side of the horn, and aseries of angular folders arranged opposite the corners of the horn andoperating along lines coincident with the diagonals of the horn and atangles of about forty-five degrees to the surface of the body-blank,said folders reciprocating independently of each other and beingarranged independent of the clamp and means for giving the angularfolders their reciprocating movement in succession, substantially asdescribed. I

at. In combination, the horn, a movable presser device at one face ofthe horn, a seaming-ham mer operating upon the opposite face of thehorn, and a plurality of pairs of angular folders operating at angles ofabout forty-five degrees to the face of the bodyblank and opposite thecorners of the horn to mold the corners of the body-blank, and means foroperating the angular folders in proper succession, the presseroperating at a point between the front folders and the hammer operatingat a point between the rear folders substantially as described.

5. In combination, the horn, aseries of angular folders operatingsubstantiallydiagonally thereof opposite the corners, a presser deviceoperating against one face of the horn and between the angular folders,a spring-clamp carried by said presser device, means for moving thepresser toward and from the horn, a seaming-hammer operating upon theopposite face of the horn and between the angular folders with means foroperating the said hammer, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a horn, the seaming-hammer, the presser havingthe upper bearing part and a bearing-block at the lower part of thehorn, the intermediate springclamp for holding the body-blank to theface of the horn and the folders with operating means, substantially asdescribed.

7. In combination, the hollow horn arranged as a chimney with a heatingdevice below, the partition extending across the horn,the seaming-hammeron the one side of the horn, the presser on the other side of the horn,means for moving the seaming-hammer and presser in line with saidpartition and the folders operating at the intermediate parts of thehorn with means for operating the same, substantially as described.

8. In combination, the horn, the folders arranged to operatesuccessively in connection therewith and means for operating the sameconsisting of a wedge-block having radiating wings and operating-leverconnections between said wedge-block and the folders, said leverconnections being operated in succession by the wings of thewedge-block, substantially as described.

9. In combination, the horn, a series of folders operating in successionin connection therewith, the levers carrying the folders, and areciprocating wedge-block having wings at different heights relative tothe levers and operating the same in predetermined order, substantiallyas described.

10. In combination, the horn of substan tially-rectangularshape,thefolders operating at the corners of the horn, the levers for op eratingthe folders, a reciprocating wedgeblock for operating the levers in apredetermined order, said wedge-block having a cross head and a crankhaving connection therewith, substantially as described.

11. In combination, the horn, the folding mechanism, a presser, a hammeroperating upon the horn upon the opposite side from the presser andmeans foroperating the presser consisting of a wedge-slide, awedge-plate connected with the presser, means for operating thewedge-slide and a spring for returning the presser with an adjustableconnection between said spring and the presser, substantially asdescribed.

12. In combination, with the horn, a folding mechanism comprisingfolders, a presser for operating against one face of the horn, aseaming-hammer operating against the opposite face, means for operatingthe seaminghammer and the presser, and a press-frame forming aresistance for the pressure of the seaming-hammer, substantially asdescribed.

13. In combination, the horn, the folders,

the seaming-hammer, a presser, means for operating the seaming-hammerand presser, and a press-frame comprising the base and upturnedstandards forming the bearings for the operating means for theseaming-hammer and presser, said press-frame resisting the pressure ofthe hammer and presser, substantially as described. 1 6

14. In combination, the horn, the pressframe having a base and upturnedstandards at opposite ends thereof, the kin g;bolt connected with thebase of the press-frame for holding the horn, the cavity in the base ofthe pressframe, the heating device therein below the horn, the folderswith means for operating the same, the seaming-hammer with means havingbearings in one of the standards of the press-frame for operating thesaid seaminghammer, the presser operating on the other side of the hornfrom the hammer and means having a bearing in the other standard of thepress-frame for operating the presser, substantially as described.

15. In combination, the horn, the folding means, the seaming-hammer withmeans for operating the same, the press-frame having a base withupturned standards at its ends, the presser arranged in a cavity in onestandard, means in said cavity for moving the presser toward the horn, ascrew connected IIO between the same and the wedge-slide, substantiallyas described.

17. In combination, the horn, the folding mechanism, and aseaming-hammer with means for reciprocating the same and giving it awiping action on the seam consisting of an eccentric at the rear of thehammer con-- nected therewith and a movable pivot near the front edge ofthe hammer, substantially as described.

18. In combination, the two pairs of chuckdisks for holding the twocans, the crimpingrollers acting simultaneously on the heads of the twocans, means for applying pressure to the crimping-rollers to force themagainst the can-heads and compensating means for the crimping-rollers,substantially as described.

19. In combination, two pairs of chuckdisks for holding two cans indifferent positions relatively to each other, crimping-rollers, meansfor applying pressure thereto to force them against the cans and acompensating device consisting of a lever pivoted intermediate of itslength and connected at its ends with the crimping-rollers and connectedalso with the pressure-applyin g means whereby the roller at one canwill be controlled through said lever from the roller at the other canand the pressure-applying means will not be afiected by thereciprocation of the rollers in passing around the corners of the cans,substantially as described.

20. In combination, the two pairs of chuck- -disks for the cans, thepairs of crimping-rollers one for each can, the oscillating blockscarrying the pairs of crimping-rollers to hold the rollers of each pairsim ultaneously against the cans, the carriages holding the blocks, thecompensating lever connected with the carriages and a movable support towhich the pressure-applying means is connected and upon which thecompensating lever is adj ustably pivoted, substantially as described.

21. In combination in a can-making machine, the horn, the foldingmechanism comprising the folders, the reciprocating hammer, a sleeve, aneccentric for operating the hammer, a constantly'rotating shaft passingthrough thesleeve,a clutch between the sleeve and theconstantly-rotating shaft with means for controlling the same, thechucks for holding the cans for the crimping action, thecrimping-rollers with operating means therefor, the

gearing for rotating the chucks and a clutch between the said gearingand the constantlyrotating shaft with means'for operating the clutch,substantially as described.

22. In combination, the horn, the folding mechanism comprising thefolders, the reciprocating wedge-block for operating the same havingconnections thereto, the crimping mechanism including the chucks withmeans for rotating them and connections for retracting one chuck diskfrom the other, said connections being controlled by the reciprocatingwedge-block, substantially as described.

23. In combination, the horn, the folding mechanism comprising thefolders with the wedge-block for operating the same, a seaming-hammer, apresser operating on the opposite side of the horn from the hammer, thecrimping mechanism comprising the crimping-rollers and the chucks forholding the cans, means for rotating the chucks, a clutch forcontrollingthe action of the seaming-hammer, a clutch for controlling the rotarymeans of the chucks and connections controlled by cams for operating thepresser and for controlling the crimping-rollers, substantially asdescribed.

24. In combination, the horn, the folding mechanism, and a strippercomprising a vertically-movable plate with means for operating the sameconsisting of a cross-head, a crank for operating the same, anautomatically-controlled clutch mechanism for timing the operation ofthe crank to raise said stripper after the body has beenmolded,substantially as described.

.25. In combination, the horn, the folders, the levers carrying thesame, the reciprocating wedge-block, the crank and crank-shaft formoving the wedge-block, the gear-wheel 46 on the crank-shaft, thepresser operating against one face of the former, means for operatingthe same controlled by a cam on the gear-wheel, a hammer, a sleevehaving an eccentric for operating the same, a c0nstantlyrotated shaftextending through the sleeve, a main shaft having gear connections withthe gear 46 and with the constantly-operating vertical shaft, a clutchbetween the eccentric'sleeve and the vertical shaft, connectionscontrolling said clutch and operated bya cam on the gear-wheel, thestripper, means for operating the same controlled by a clutch betweenthe same and the main shaft, means for controlling the clutch operatedby the cam on the gear-wheel, the chucks for holding the can for thecrimping action, the gears for rotating the chucks, a clutch between thesame and the constantly-operated shaft, means for too con trolling theclutch operated from a cam of tracting one of the chuck-disks, saidconned tions being operated by the wed ge-block, substantially asdescribed.

26. In combination, the vertical horn, the vertical angular folders, thevertical levers to which the folders are pivoted and thevertically-reciprocating wedge-block for spreadin g the lower ends ofsaid levers,substantia1ly as described.

27. In combination, the vertical horn, the vertical folders, thevertical levers pivoted intermediate of their length, means foroperating the levers and the evener-links pivoted to the shoes of thefolders and at points adjacent to the pivots of the vertical levers,substantially as described.

28. In combination with the horn and folders with operating means, theseaming-hammer, an eccentric for operating the hammer and a clutch forcontrolling the action of the eccentric with automatically-operatin gmeans for controlling the clutch to operate the hammer after the blankhas been folded, substantially as described.

29. In combination, in a can-making machine, a horn, folding-arms, aseaming-hammer, and the yielding block or strip projecting from the rearface of the horn to afiord a bearing for the last sections of the blank,substantially as described.

30. In combination, in a machine for forming can-bodies, a horn, and aplurality of pairs of folders disposed about the horn conforming to theshape thereof and operating parallel thereto, said folders acting atangles of about forty-five degrees to the body-blank to mold the same tothe face of the horn and means for moving the folders in succession andmaintaining their angular relation in said movement, substantially asdescribed.

31. In combination, the horn, a clamp on one side, a seaming-hammer onthe other side;

and a plurality of pairs of folders disposed about the horn the membersof said pairs bein g arranged at opposite points said opposite foldersoperating at angles of about forty-five degrees to the face of the blankin line with each other and at points intermediate of the clamp andhammer and means for operating the folders in succession to secure amolding efiect on the blank.

32. In combination ,two pair of chuck-disks, crimping-rollers actingsimultaneously on the heads of the two cans, means for applyingpressure, to the crimpingrollers to force them against the can-heads andcompensating means for the crimping-rollers, said chuckdisks being of aform to hold cans of rectangular orlike shape,substantially asdescribed.

33. In combination in a machine for forming can-bodies, a horn and aplurality of folders disposed about the horn at different points, andoperating parallel to the face thereof, means for moving the folders inproper succession and along straight lines passing through the hornwhereby a molding efiect on the blank is secured, said blank be ingpresented by one folder to the molding action of the next and a hammerfor securing together the meeting edges of the molded blank,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

J. W. TERRY, H. O. GWYN.

